Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow never really had a chance last year. From his lingering calf strain to his season-ending wrist injury, Burrow just couldn’t get right. As a result, he seems to have been a bit forgotten as an elite quarterback. Should fantasy football managers be looking to capitalize on this perception in Best Ball drafts?
Joe Burrow’s 2024 Fantasy Outlook
It goes without saying that drafting Burrow last season was a disaster for fantasy managers in any format. He averaged 15.3 fantasy points per game, which is about as bad as it gets for a guy who was supposed to be an elite QB1.
Of course, we all know what precipitated Burrow’s forgettable year. It all started with Burrow’s training camp calf strain, which was very clearly nowhere near 100% by the time the season started.
Burrow battled through the calf strain and didn’t miss a single game because of it. But its effects were obvious. He didn’t post more than 16.4 fantasy points in a single contest over the first month of the season.
Around Week 5, Burrow finally started to look healthy. Unfortunately, just as he was getting going — scoring 20+ fantasy points in four of his next five — a wrist injury ended his season in Week 11.
Joe Burrow DEEP SHOT to Ja’Marr Chase 🤯
Buckle up 🍿
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
We know what Burrow at his best looks like. He averaged 20.5 and 21.7 fantasy points per game in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
But here’s the concern with a guy like Burrow — in the modern NFL, to be a truly elite fantasy QB, a guy has to run.
It took over 4,500 yards and 34 and 36 touchdowns for Burrow to reach those numbers. Even a slightly outlier season where touchdowns are weighted a little toward the ground game would likely push Burrow below 20 fantasy points per game.
With that said, there is plenty of reason to like Burrow.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins form one of the best WR duos in the NFL. And with the departure of Joe Mixon, the Bengals should remain a pass-heavy team. Even with Burrow missing half the season, they threw the ball 63% of the time in a neutral game script last year.
Should You Draft Burrow in 2024 Best Ball Leagues?
Burrow is still the same QB he was heading into last season. Yet, he’s priced significantly cheaper, going behind Anthony Richardson, who played all of four games in his rookie season, and C.J. Stroud, who is really just a younger Burrow.
Burrow certainly lacks the upside of rushing quarterbacks, but he’s a safer pick than Richardson and the same pick as Stroud, except he goes over a full round later in Best Ball drafts.
KEEP READING: Best Ball Fantasy QB Rankings 2024
Fantasy managers shouldn’t necessarily be targeting Burrow. There are several quarterbacks going even later with significant rushing upside. However, Burrow is very stackable with Chase if you get an early pick and is worth stacking with Higgins as well. There are spots to take Burrow. If he’s a value in your draft, feel free to push the button.
